Bernice Riley was born August 19, 1928, in Mobile, Alabama. She came to Akron in her teens following the death of her grandparents and was raised by Harry and Maude Kennedy. She was educated in the Akron Public School System, graduating from South High School. She married James (Bones) Riley in 1951 and was married for 61 years. They had three daughters, Joyce A., Jacqueline, and Brenda. She worked at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for a number of years and then was later employed at St. Thomas Hospital as an EKG Technician, retiring after 30 years of dedicated service. Bernice was a faithful member of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church for the past 79 years. Her service to the church included teaching Sunday School, serving as a member of the Senior Usher Board and, most recently, the Mother’s Board.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Riley, and daughter, Joyce A. Riley; parents, Harry and Maude Kennedy; sisters, Rose M. Cummings, Mabel Dozier, and Jessie Craig; brother, John Leslie Tate; brother-in-laws John Little and Neil Cummings, Jr; Aunt Florean and Uncle John McGadney.

She leaves to cherish her memories her sister, Ann Thomas of Mobile, Alabama; daughters, Jacqueline Rollins of Columbus, Ohio, Brenda (Roger) Turner of Akron, Ohio; grandchildren, James Riley (Debbie) of Akron, Ohio, Patrice Rollins of Cleveland, Ohio, Teresa and Carl Rollins II, of Columbus, Ohio, Monique (Thomas) Gutierrez of Edgewood, Kentucky, and Nicole Turner of Akron, Ohio; great-grandchildren, James Riley, Jr., of Newport News, Virginia, Tiffany Riley of Akron, Ohio, Saniya Rollins and Ziriah Johnson of Columbus, Ohio, Carl Rollins III of East Orange, New Jersey, Gabrielle and Grace Hannett of Cleveland, Ohio, Eli Gutierrez of Edgewood, Kentucky; great-great-grandchild, Jazminah B. Gresby of Newport News, Virginia.

Also, cherishing her memory special friends, Neil Fielding and Linda King of Akron, Ohio and a host of nieces and nephews.